McAllister set to return from DL on Tuesday

SEATTLE -- The Indians did not land Matt Garza in a trade, but the club will be adding a starter to its rotation on Tuesday.

Cleveland is set to activate right-hander Zach McAllister from the disabled list to start against the Mariners on Tuesday, ending the starter's seven-week comeback from a sprained right middle finger. Manager Terry Francona is looking forward to having his rotation intact once again.

"That'll be fun," Francona said of getting McAllister back. "He's worked so hard and he's been so diligent. We're excited. He's definitely a big part of our future. The fact that he came through this so well, because this wasn't something to mess around with, he did a really good job with it."

The Indians' rotation as a whole has been on a strong run as of late.

Entering Monday's game, Cleveland's starters were a combined 5-0 with an American League-leading 1.89 ERA (14 earned runs in 66 2/3 innings), dating back to July 7. In 11 games during that time period, the Indians starting staff has led the league in opponents' batting average (.176), strikeouts (66) and baserunners per nine innings (9.32).

The Indians had been involved in the trade discussions with the Cubs about Garza, but Chicago dealt the right-hander to the Rangers on Monday. Francona would not go as far as saying rotation help was no longer a need given the Tribe's recent improvement in that area, but the manager did say he likes the group he has in hand.

"I'm not comfortable saying what we need, because I don't feel that way," Francona said. "I'm enjoying the heck out of sending who we're sending out there. I really am, for different reasons. ... I like our team. I like seeing how good we can get. That's kind of how I feel."

McAllister, who is 4-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 11 starts for the Indians this season, appreciated how the team handled his stay on the disabled list.

"One thing that's been really nice is they've allowed me to go on the road trips," said McAllister, who had a 2.89 ERA in nine starts before the finger issue flared up. "You still feel like you're part of the team and not necessarily an outcast because I'm on the DL. ... Them allowing me to do that has been a huge help for me as far as mentally staying in the game."